44 | Herefords ticking all the right boxes with Kelly Deeks MEAT & WOOL » Orari Gorge Herefords Hereford breeders are scoring a coup with meat processors and achieving premium payments, with meat quality that is up amongst the best on offer in New Zealand. “The Hereford has a very good success rate of meeting the right criteria for meat quality and marbling, and gaining the premium that goes with that,” says New Zealand Hereford Association vice president and Orari Gorge Station farm manager Robert Peacock. “At the Association, we are working on trying to increase the awareness of how good the Hereford meat is.” The Hereford breed is one of the oldest and most established beef breeds in the world and is globally recognised for its natural flavour, tenderness, and succulence. The unmatched docility of Hereford cattle is conducive to producing great beef and low pH readings, and their quiet temperament means Herefords are a pleasure to work with and safe to handle, resulting in quality beef production. Rearing and growing Herefords outside yearround on New Zealand pastures or forage crops contributes to a lean yet flavoursome and healthy beef product. In the latest cohort of the Beef + Lamb Beef Progeny Test, Hereford bulls came first and second for both Eye Muscle (EMA) and Marbling (IMF) out of 44 bulls from all breeds. Orari Gorge Patton was one of these bulls coming first for EMA and second for IMF. At Orari Gorge Herefords, the Peacock family has been working on its marbling for nearly 30 years. Orari Gorge Herefords started ultrasound scanning for IMF in the mid-1990s, as soon as the technology became available, and then making better selection decisions as a result. Robert says it is important to scan as many animals as possible and not just the top sale bulls. “The more you scan the greater the accuracy of the data, and you might find something you didn’t expect.” He says more beef farmers could be taking advantage of the hybrid vigour offered by a Hereford cross. A Hereford cross results in greater fertility, longevity, growth and carcass weights, and a crossbreeding programme helps farmers to reduce their environmental footprint as well. “Hereford cross or pure Hereford can get the same premium payments for meat quality as the Angus. Most processors’ main premium has nothing to do with breed, it’s to do with the marbling score, and the bigger the marbling score, the bigger the premium.” The crossbred cow is without doubt the best cow around for performance, and the Hereford is one of the best breeds to use in a crossbreeding programme. Because the Hereford is a long established breed that is more homozygous than most, when it is used in a cross breeding programme, the heterozygosity achieved is significantly better than other breeds. And the benefits for New Zealand farmers don’t stop at hybrid vigour. These cattle are eligible for the award winning Hereford Prime branded beef programme, Steak of Origin winner of the best branded Beef title in 2009, and proudly supplying the top end of New Zealand’s restaurant market. “Hereford cross or pure Hereford can get the same premium payments for meat quality as the Angus. Most processors’ main premium has nothing to do with breed, it’s to do with the marbling score, and the bigger the marbling score, the bigger the premium.” Orari Gorge Station, in South Canterbury foothills near Geraldine, consists of river flats at 750ft above sea level, rolling clay downs at 1000-1500ft and tussock country rising up to 3500ft. Orari Gorge Herefords on hill country.
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